Cleveland Vintage Blog — History

If you are a fan of the iconic film The Deer Hunter, which currently sits at number 78 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest films ever, you might also know that many of the most memorable scenes in the movie were filmed in Cleveland and other areas nearby.  The Deer Hunter Films in Cleveland: The Why and Where For starters, a unique thing about the film was the fact that every single scene was filmed on location; no sound stages were used at all. This is considered rare for any film and in rewatching The Deer Hunter, it's easy...

There is a true Cleveland treasure that sits permanently anchored off North Marginal Rd. downtown, right next to Burke Lakefront Airport. If you're a WWII buff, you might have already guessed that we're talking about the USS Cod. The USS Cod and the Submarine's Role in World War II For starters, you might be wondering how the vessel got its name. It's simple, really: The Cod got its name to honor a very popular food choice found in the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans.  The USS Cod is a Gato-class fleet submarine that measures 312 feet long and weighs...

If you've been around since the 80s, you had the misfortune of living through Ted Stepien’s ownership of the Cleveland Cavaliers from 1980-1983. You might be aware of the fact that Stepien was also the owner of a highly successful professional men's softball team, the Cleveland Competitors, which he had purchased in 1978 as the Cleveland Jaybirds of the APSPL (American Professional Slo-Pitch League). Cleveland and Milwaukee broke from this league to form the NASL (North American Softball League). Ironically, the new league lasted a single season and was absorbed back into the APSPL, forming yet another new league, the...

When it opened in 1954, Captain Frank’s Lobster House - or Sea Food Restaurant, depending on the time of year - was the sole occupant of Cleveland’s E. 9th Street pier. Over the years the restaurant was many things to many people, whether it was long-time residents and regulars of the restaurant, or visitors to Cleveland who sought an opportunity to have their evening meal while enjoying a Cleveland sunset or a warm lake breeze. So, why the name "Captain Frank's?" Well, the owner who brought it to life was a Sicilian immigrant by the name of Frank Visconti who came...

You might not think about the Orlando Baking Company much in your day-to-day life, but this Northeast Ohio institution has an extraordinarily rich history well worth a deeper look. The History of the Orlando Baking Company The company’s origins are traced all the way back to 1872 in Castel di Sangro, Italy where it was founded by Giustino Orlando. Orlando's beginnings in the United States were very humble. Two of Giustino’s seven sons, Giuseppe and Vincenzo, came to America to get things off the ground in 1906. Another son, Alfonso, remained behind in Italy to run those operations and did so for the...